Valve control mechanism



Jue 23K, 1936; l 'R A, KINZHE Y2,045,232

VALVE CONTROL MECHANI-SM Original Filed Feb. 8, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet l .'l'inl; -v..

June 23,1936. P IA, KNEE i 2,045,232 l VALVE 'CONTROL MECHANISM Y Original Filed Feb. 8, 1950 8 SheetS-Sheet 2 June 23, 1936, p, A, KlNZlE 2,045,232

VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 8, 1930 8 SheecS-Sheel 3 dn/w, i

June 23, 1936. p A, K|NZ|E 2,045,232

VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM yOriginal iled Feb. 8, 1950 8 SheelLS-Sheell 4 j/YM,

`une 23, 1936.

P. A. KINZIE VALVE CONTROL MECHANI SM Original Filed Feb. 8, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 23, 1936. vF, A, KINZIE 2,045,232

VAL'VE CONTROL MECHANI SM Original Filed Feb. 8, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 23, 1936. y P, A, ,UN-ZH.; 045232 VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 8, 1930 BSheetS-Sheet '7 i ln/manto@ 6942,? a.

June 23, 193s. R A, KINZIE 2,045,232

VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 8, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 gjm/vento@ z ,ff Q,

Patented `lune 23, 1936 UNITED STATES VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM Phillip A. Kinzie, Denver, Colo., assignor to Universal Hydraulic Corporation, Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Application February 8, 1930, Serial No. 426,872 Renewed May 15, 1935 33 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for controlling the operation of valves of the type in Which a valve element, commonly known as a needle, is caused to move toward and away from its seat, or to assume any control position relatively thereto, by the iniluence upon it of differential pressures. As disclosing examples of such valves, attention is directed to the copending applications of Leslie N. McClellan, Philip A. Kinzie, John L. Savage and Charles M. Day, filed January 31, 1928, Ser. No. 250,778, and i'lled January 18, 1929, Ser. No. 333,459.

In valves of this character wherein a plurality of chambers furnishing diiferential pressure areas is provided, it is essential that the pressure fluid, usually Water from the body or stream of Water controlled, be so admitted to and exhausted from the several chambers, as required, that the full effect of the differential pressure areas may be obtained and reflected in the movements, whether great or small,l of the valve member.

The main object of this invention is, therefore, to provide control mechanism whereby the effect of the pressure uid within the pressure chambers of the valve and upon the differential pressure areas thereof may be so controlled as to obtain the maximum operating eiiciency of the valve.

To this end the invention contemplates the combination with a valve proper having a plurality of pressure chambers providing differential pressure areas, of `control mechanism including a control valve, passages communicating therewith and with the pressure chambers and controlled by the control valve, and operating mechanism responsive to movement of a movable member of the valve proper and to manually operable means for its adjustment, whereby the control of said passages by said control valve may be accomplished, as I will proceed now to explain and nally claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a valve proper of the type hereinbefore referred to and the control mechanism therefor, the latter being shown .in elevation. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation of the casing of the valve proper, showing the inlet opening of one of the passages for the pressure iiuid. Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section of the bearing of the communication tube. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the control valve of the control mechanism taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 6 and Fig. 6 is a similar sectional elevation taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modified form of .the f5 invention in which the control valve is arranged beneath the valve proper rather than above it as in Fig. l. Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of the control stand of Fig. 7, with its enclosed operative elements. Fig. 9 is 10 a greatly enlarged axial section of the axial tube of the valve proper'of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is an elevation of the right hand end of this tube, and Fig. 11 is a transverse section thereof on the line II--I I of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a vertical axialsecl5 tion of the control valve of Fig. 7, and Fig. -13 is a sectional elevation of same taken in a plane at right-angles to the section of Fig. 12.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will beseen that the valve proper is of the movable needleV or plunger type, and comprises essentially a casing I and a movable needle 0r plunger having a body 2, nose 3 and head 4. The forward portion of the body 2 is tapered to frusto-conical shape, and carries a spider 5 held in place by the nose 3. This spider is provided With a hub 6 having a bearing in which is mounted one end of a shaft 'I to the other end of which is attached afcylindrical member 8 in sliding engagement Within a xed bearingmem- 3o ber 9. The cylindrical member-,8 is interiorly Vrecessed troughout its length, and provided with rack teeth Ill (Fig. 3) in constant mesh with a pinion Il having a shank I2 carried by and supported in a bearing I3 provided in the member 9. 35 The shank I 2 is broached to receive the squared end I4 ofy a shaft I5 to which rotative movement isY imparted by the rack-and-pinion gearing IO-I I. This shaft I5 extends to the valve control mechanism and provides an actuating means 4o therefor, as Will be hereinafter more fully explained.

As is the case in the valves disclosed in the copending applications referred to, the valve member or needle is mountedfor axial sliding move- 45 ment in the casing I Withinacylindrical guide member or housing I6 supported axially of the casing-I by means of radial vanes or ribs, I'l and preferably integral therewith. Thus the needle may move toward and away from a seat I8 formed 50 in the casing I, and will control the ow *of fluid through the annular space I9 defined by Jthe casing Iv and guide member I6 and hence determine the valve opening.

Obviously, as the needle moves it carries with 55 it the shaft 1 and member 8 and through the medium of the rack-and-pinion gearing IIl-II will impart rotation to the shaft I5. Thus, when the needle recedes from its seat I8, to open the valve, the shaft I5 will be given a clockwise rotative movement (considered as viewed from above) and when the needle moves toward its seat I8, the shaft I5 will be rotated counterclockwise.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, wherein the details of the control mechanism are shown, it will be seen that the upper end of shaft I5 is squared, similarly to its lower end, and is engaged with the broached bore 20 of a worm member 2l. Hence, the worm member 2I will be rotated by the rack-and-pinion gearing ID-I I through the medium of shaft I5 in response to movement of the needle of the valve proper.

The worm member 2| is rotatably mounted and held against axial movement in a fixed bearing member 22 by means `of stop collars 23 and 24.

The thread of the worm member 2I is preferably triple pitch and meshes with a nut 25 rotatably mounted in a shiftable valve element in the form of a spool or piston 26 which it frictionally engages and to which it imparts axial movement by means of a shoulder 21 and lock collar 28. Thus rotation of the shaft I5 and with it of worm 2| will cause the nut .25 and with it spool or piston 26 to travel axially of a ported liner 26 between the limits prescribed by collar 24 and the upper shoulder 30 of the worm member 2l which forms a stop collar at the top of the worm member. Any excess rotation of worm 2| will serve to rotate nut 25 within the spool or piston 26.

Therefore, although the rack-and-pinion gearing IIl-I I is capable of imparting to the worm 2| rotation which would result in relatively great axial movement of the nut 25 and spool or piston 26, such axial movement is limited, as described, and the multiple pitch of the worm which results in rapid movement of the spool or piston will make the spool or piston very sensitive to rotation of the shaft I5 and therefore to slight movement of the valve needle.

As distinguished from the valve proper, the valve formed by the spool or piston 26 and ported liner 29 Vis referred to as a control valve.

The pressure fluid 'for actuating the valve (water from the body or stream controlled) is collected from the fluid entering the casing I at the up-stream end around the splitter 32 and enters a pasageway 33, leading to the control body, through a relatively long slot 34 (see Figs. 1 and 2). By causing the pressure fluid to thus enter the control body, I maintain an appreciable percentage of the velocity head of the rapidly-flowing fluid. The pressure fluid thus entering the passageway 33 is conducted into the control body past a speed control valve 35. Thence the fluid passes into and annular passage 36 surrounding the control valve 26--29 and its constant pressure in such passage makes it immediately available to annular port 31 or 38 depending upon the position of the spool or piston 26.

In Fig. 1 the needle of the valve proper is shown in the wide open position, and in Figs. 5 and 6, the position of the spool or piston 26 of the control valve is shown in the adjustment to maintain this wide open position of the needle. In this adjustment the spoo1 or piston 26 opens communication between the passage 36 and port 36, and the pressure fluid flows into passageway 39 through which it passes into the communication tube 40 and thence through a slotted port or ports 4I of the tube into the chamber B defined by a diaphragm 42 carried by an axial tube 43 fixed to the casing I, and the head 4 of the needle, in which chamber pressure tending to move and hold the needle in the open position is established. At the same time that this pressure is building up in chamber B the pressure fluid contained in chamber C will be expelled through axial tube 46 into chamber A through ports 44 in tube 43, one of which ports is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, whence it flows upward through passage 45 into annular port 31 of the control valve and is directed thence by the spool or piston 26 into passageway 46 from which it escapes through waste pipe 41 (see Figs. 1 and 6).

Evidently, therefore, as long as the spool or piston 26 is kept in the position shown, pressure will be maintained in chamber B, and fluid which leaks into chambers A and C, through the clearance spaces necessary for proper operation of the needle, will be permitted to escape from these chambers. Thus, by introducing pressure fluid into chamber B and releasing fluid from chambers A and C the full power effect of the fluid in chamber B is attained to exert an opening influence upon the needle no matter what its p0- sition with relation to its seat I8 may be.

Conversely, if the spool or piston 26 is moved i 40, 39, 38, and 48 to waste pipe 41. Thus, as long as the spool or piston 26 is in the lowered position, pressure tending to close the needle against its seat I8 will be maintained in chambers A and C and fluid will be free to escape from chamber B.

As already indicated, opening movement of the needle causes clockwise rotation of shaft I5, and closing movement of the needle causes counter-clockwise rotation of shaft I5. Thus, the thread of the worm 2I being a left-hand thread, opening movement of the needle will cause the spoo1 or piston 26 to move downward, and closing movement of the needle will cause the spool or piston to move upward.

It will therefore be seen that the movement of the needle is reflected in movement of the spool or piston of the control valve and vice versa, and that these two members are functionally interdependent.

Thus, if manually operable means are provided for adjusting the position of the spool or piston 26, a concomitant movement of the needle due to pressure variations in the chambers A, B and C will be produced.

It is thus apparent that four fundamental facts governing the action of the control mechanism and needle are presented, viz:

1. Upward movement of spool or piston 26 results in opening movement of the needle.

2. Downward movement of spool or piston 26 results in closing movementof the needle.

3. Opening movement of the needle causes downward movement of the spool or piston 26, and,

4. Closing movement of the needle causes upward movement of the spool or piston 26.

In order that the control valve 26--25 may be manually operated, I provide a control stand 49 (Fig. 1) having a hand-wheel 50 carried by a shaft 5I which extends downwardly into the control body and is fitted adjacent to its lower end with a pinion 52 (Fig. 5) which meshes with a gear 53.

The gear 53 is keyed at 54 to a tubularshaft 55 provided at its lower end with a head 56 keyed at 51 to an extension 58 of the nut 25. By this arrangement, if the hand-wheel 50 is turned clockwise, the shaft and pinion 52 will be similarly turned and will impart counterclockwise rotation to nut through shaft 55 and gear 53. This counter-clockwise,rotation of nut 25 causes it to descend the worm member 2|, carrying with it the spool or piston 26 until the latter reaches its limit of downward movement.

In this position the control valve 26-29 will admit pressure fluid to chambers Aand C and permit escape of fluid from chamber B. Consequently, the needle will start its closing movement and this movement will, through the rackand-pinion gearing Ill-I l, produce counterclockwise rotation of shaft l5 and worm member 2| and cause the nut 25 and spool or piston 26 to move upward. If this movement is permitted to continue it will quickly throttle communication between ports and passages 38, 48and 3l, 36 until a balance of pressure is established within the chambers A and C` and chamber B, thereby bringing the needle to rest in a new position nearer to seat i8 than that formerly occupied by it. In view of the fact that as the hand-wheel 50 is rotated clockwise to move the spool or piston 26 downward and is rotated counter-clockwise to move the saine upward the effect of the pressure fluid in the chambers of the valve proper tends, through the rack-and-pinion gearing, to counteract such movement and bring about a balance of pressmes in the chambers and a consequent position oi' rest of the spool or piston and of the valve needle, it will be seen that in order to impart full closing or opening movement to the Valve, continued clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation, respectively, of the handwheel 56 must be made until the needle has seated or fully opened, the spool or piston 26 being held in one or the other of its extreme positions.

The position of the valve needle relatively to its seat is indicated at all times at the control stand 49 by a pointer 59 (Fig. 1) which travels throughan arc of approximately 262 over the scale of a dial This pointer is appropriately driven by gearing (not shown) in the control stand through a tubular shaft 6| (Fig. 5) having a pinion S2 which meshes with the external teeth of an external-internal gear 63, the internal teeth of which mesh with an idler 64 driven by a pinion 65 carried by a shaft 66 having a squared end 61 in driven engagement with the breached bore 20 of worm member 2|. The worm member 2| being directly connected with and responsive to movement ofthe needle will cause the train of mechanism just described to reilect such movement in the pointer 59.

In order that the speed control Valve 35 may be adjusted to increase or vdecrease the speed of movement of the needle of the valve by increasing or decreasing the rate of flow of the pressure fluid, I provide at the control stand 4S a shaft 68 having an outwardly extending squared or other-shaped end to receive a wrench or handle (not shown). This shaft is connected by suitable gearing (not shown) within the control stand with a tubular shaft 68 (Fig. 5) provided at its lower end with a gear 'I0 rotatably journalled upon vthe hub of pinion 52. YThe gear 18 meshes with a gear 1| having a breached bearing spindle l2 in drivingrengagement with the squared end 73 of the stem 14 of the valve 35. The stem 14 is threaded, as showny at |5,V and cooperates with a lixed complementally threaded bushing 16. By this arrangement it will be seen that rotation of the shaft 68 will impart opening and closing movement of the valve 35.

In needle valves of the internal differential type, such as that shown in Fig. 1, the introduction into and removal of the pressure actuating iluid from the central chamber B presents problems of design and construction difficult to overcome. A By providing the communication tube 46, I have solved these problems and produced a valve of this type which may be constructed and operated with marked facility and ease.

The tube 46 is arranged with one end (the up-stream end) in a counterbore Ti in the casing (see Figs. l and 4) and in direct communication with the passageway 39, and its other end fits within a bore 'i3 in xed diaphragm 42 and is held in place and closed by a cap 'I9 and resilient washer 86, whereby the tube end is made watertight and inaccuracies of nt compensated for. Where the tube passes through the head 4 of the needle I provide a'flexible sliding and oating bearing. This bearing (Fig. 4) includes a sleeve 8| having a spherical surface 82 at one end which is engaged by a compleinental split bearing ring 83 mounted in a counterbore 84 in the head 4 and held in place between an apertured cap 85 and ring S6. As will be seen,

the diameters of the bearing member 8| and split ring S3 are less than that of the opening 8l and counterbore 84 in head 4 in which they are arranged, and hence a certain amount of play between the tube 46 and head 4 is provided forybut due to the tof the ring 83 fluid is prevented from passing around the bearing .from chamber B to chamber A and vice versa.

Moreover, the lateral and axialflexibility of this mounting negatives any tendency of the bearing 8| to bind upon tube 40.

Obviously,with the tube 48 substantially rigidly held between the fixed parts I and 42 and passing through the movable head 4 of the needle, it is necessary to provide some means for preventing rotation ofthe needle about its axis.

This is done by providing the head 4 with a key 86 (Fig. l) which travels axially in a keyway 89 in the axial tube 43.

The port or ports 4| are so located axially of tube 46 that they will be throttled by bearing 8| near the end of closing movement of the needle to prevent slamming of the needle against its seat. Similarly, the port or ports 44 will be throttled by the hub of head 4 to preventslamming of the needle in open position. 4.

In valves of the character in question, it is essential for their safe and-proper operation that all cavities be free of entrapped air and, therefore, I provide means in connection with v'my control mechanism whereby this may be accomplished.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that I pr lvide a vent stand 96 provided with live handoperated valves 9|, 92,33, 94 and 95. These valves are opened wide when the valve proper is put in service and are closed afterl the entrapped air has been expelled.

The valve 9| is connected by pipe 65 with a cored passage 9 '1 in the valve casing |,Ythus af- ,fordinga vent for air Within the annular space I9 and the conduit (not shown) in which the valve proper is installed.

The valve 92 is connected by pipe 98 with a passage 99 formed in one of the vanes I 'I and which registers when the needle is in the closed position, with a port in the body 2 of the needle, thus venting the chamber B above tube 40.

The valve 93 is connected by pipe |0| with a passage I 02, similar to passage 99, which registers,

when the needle is in closed position, with a port |03 in the needle body 2, thus venting chamber C.

The valve 94 is connected by pipe |04 with the outlet |05 of the control body (see Fig. 5) which, being in direct communication with passageway 45, vents the chamber A, and being in communication through grooves |09 (Figs. 5 and 6) with passageway |0'I vents chamber A.

The valve 95 is connected by pipe |08 with the control body at |09 (Fig. 5) and is thus in communication through passageway 39 with tube 40 and vents chamber B to the elevation of the tube.

It will be apparent that the air vents furnished by vent valves 9|, 94 and 95, function properly no matter what the position of the needle may be, whereas the vents furnished by vent valves 92 and 93 function only when the needle is in the closed position.

When the valve proper is put in service, either when rst installed or when its functioning is first required, for example at the beginning of the irrigation season when it is used in connection with an irrigation system, it is desirable to first introduce pressure fluid (the water controlled) into chambers A and C. This is done in order to hold the needle to its seat I8 while air is expelled from the interior cavities and chambers of the valve. To do this, a separate pipe line ||0 controlled by a valve is run from a source of pressure fluid, such as an upstream penstock, tothe control body into which it discharges at I2. yIn filling chambers A and C from this source, speed control valve 35 is closed and valve is opened and handwheel 50 is turned clockwise to the limit of its travel, thereby moving the spool or piston 25 to the position which establishes communication between passage 36 and passage 45, the depressed position, and admitting the pressure fluid to chambers A and C.

As the fluid enters these chambers the air will be expelled therefrom through vent valves 93 and 94.

Thereafter, when pressure uid is admitted to chamber B, the air therein may be expelled through vent valves 92 and 95.

In order that water may be drained from all cavities of the valve, to prevent freezing or for other purposes, I provide a drain header pipe ||3 to which waste water from the control body and vent stand is conducted by the pipes 41 and ||4 respectively, and from the casing by valvecontrolled pipe I5.

Chambers A and A drain into pipe I3 through valved connection IIB and chambers B and C drain into pipe ||3 through valved connections 'I and |I8, respectively, communicating with passages |9 and |20 which, when the needle is in closed position register with ports |2| and |22, respectively, in the needle body 2.

In the embodiment ofV the invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the control mechanism including the control valve is located above the valve proper, but, if desired, it may be placed beneath the valve proper as illustrated in the alternative construction of Figs. 7 to 13. When so positioned needle valves of poly-chambered construction may' be made more effective when the elevation of the surface of the controlled liquid is but a relatively short distance above the center line of the needle valve, as occurs when the contents of a storage reservoir is depleted by heavy power or'irrigation demands and the liberating mechanisms (needle valves) are required to function with the least possible required operating head in order that the remaining water may be released for use as needed and the liberating mechanisms still respond to their controls.

By placing the control mechanism, particularly the control valve, beneath the valve proper, the

outflow or exhaust of fiuid from those chambers of the valve proper in which it is desired that no back pressure shall exist, is carried away from such chambers directly downward into the drain line, thereby relieving those chambers of pressure equivalent to that which would be produced by a column of liquid the height of which is equal to the difference between the vertical distance from the waste pipe of the control when placed above the valve proper and the waste pipe orice of the control when placed beneath the valve proper.

This difference in elevation for a sixty inch needle valve is approximately ten feet, and is equivalent to a little over 41A pounds per square inch of hydrostatic pressure. From this it will be seen that by placing the control Valve beneath the valve proper, the back pressure within the inactive chambers of the valve proper will be decreased by more than 41A; pounds per square inch, thereby increasing the effective pressure within the chambers for imparting movement to the needle by a like amount and consequently making possible the movement and control of the needle with the surface of the controlled liquid at less elevation above the center line of the valve proper than is possible when the control valve is above the valve proper.

Several other advantages are secured by placing the control valve beneath the valve proper, among which the more salient ones are as follows:

1. Simplification of the controlling mechanism.

2. Simplification of the needle valve, permitting of a design which is fabricated with greater facility and is consequently less costly to produce.

3. Drainage of the interior valve cavities is more certain and is made easier of accomplishment.

4. Introduction of the pressure fluid into the actuating chambers is more direct and such fluid can be supplied in greater volume.

5. Admitting the pressure fluid from the lowest part of the valve prevents the entrainment of air within the fiuid and allows the entering uid to drive out the air above its rising level through the vent pipes above.

Referring particularly to Fig. 7, it will be seen that the needle valve is of the same general construction as that shown in Fig. 1 already described, and that the means whereby the needle |23 in moving toward and away from its seat |29 produces rotary movement of the rack pinion |25 through the spider |26, the shaft |2'I and the rack |28 and the means for maintaining these parts in their proper relative positions are also similar.

The rack pinion |25 has jaw clutches |29 formed in its upper and lower ends, with which the complementally formed ends of two tubular drive stems |30 and |3| are engaged. The tubular shaft |30 extends downward to the control mechanism located beneath the valve, where the jaw clutch |32 (Fig. 12) formed upon its lower extremity engages with the mating jaw clutch formed in the upper end of a control screw |33 so that through this stem |30 any rotative movement of rack pinion |25 caused by movement of rack |28 in response to movement of the valve needle is transmitted to control screwy |33, and at the same time this same rotary movement is also transmitted upward by the upper drive stem |3| to the control stand |34 (Figs. 7 and 8) and through the gears |35, |36 and |31 contained within this stand actuates the indicator pointer |38 which registers upon the dial |39 the position reference to its of the valve needle |23 with seat |24.

Referring now to the general assembly of the control mechanism (Figs. 12 and 13), it will be seen that-the rotative movement of control screw |33 produced by axial movement of the valve needle 23 by means of the rack |28, pinion |25 and stem |33, as described, will cause upward and downward movement of the control nut |46 and the shiftable valve element or control piston or spool @4| in the same manner as that already described with reference to the equivalent parts of the control mounted above the Valve proper, and that this upward movement of the parts |45 v `and iti is limited by the upper face of piston collar |42 coming in contact with the lower face of lower screw collar |43, and that downward movement of these parts |43 and |4| is limited by the counterbcred shoulder |44 of nut |45 coming Y into contact with the upper face of the collar |45 formed as an integral part of the lower end of. screw |33, so that the vertical travel possible for the control piston is limited and any continued rotary movement of screw |33 is converted into rotary motion of the nut |46v and piston or spool |4|. It will be noted that control screw |33 is rotatably mounted in control base |45 but is restrained from any axial movement either up or down by the` upper screw collar |41 and lower screw collar |43 bearing against screw thrust washers |48 carried at the top and bottom faces of the bearing hub |49 of the control base |45.

Manual adjustment of the control mechanism is accomplished by rotation of the control wheel 52 (Figs. 7 and 8). This wheel is mounted upon the shaft extension of control pinion |52 and keyed thereto, and thus when wheel |55 is rotated its movement will be imparted through pinion |52 to a brake gear |53, and the rotation of this gear is transmitted through the teeth of a pinion |54- which is preferably integral with brake gear E53, to control gear |55 Whose hub is broached out square and receives the correspondingly squared upper end of a control shaft |55 which extends downward through the stand |34 with its lower squared end |51 (Fig. 7) entering the square broached coupling |58 and imparts the received rotary7 motion to control shaft |59 which is also connected with coupling |58. Control shaft |55 extends downward through gland |60, coupling |5i, tubular drive stems |30 and |3| and control rack pinion |25 through the needle valve body |52, and the lower portion of this shaft |59 passes through control screw |33 and terminates in a squared end |53 (Fig. 12) which is fitted into a similarly broached stem disk |64 keyed to nut |43 which thereby receives the transmitted rotary movement of shaft |59. This rotary move- V ment of nut |40 will causeit to .climb up and down the threads of screw |33, and as it moves up y or down in accordance to the direction of its rotation will cause the piston |4| to move upward or downward, and thereby close and open the pressure liquid inlet and exhaust ports in control body IE5 to the interior actuating chambers of the needle valve in a manner similar to that already described for the control mounted above the valve proper.

To prevent any tendency for the desired axial or up and down movement of control nut |40 and control piston |4| caused by axial movement of the needle, from being nulliied or prematurely converted into rotary movement due to the steepness of the helix angle of the threads of control screw |33 and the consequent inclination of control nut |45 to rotate with the screw, the stem disk |55, shaft |53 and the train of gearing |55, |54, |53, and hand-wheel |50, in the control stand |34, are provided with an adjustable friction brake so that the desired axial movement within the limits prescribed will be accomplished before rotary movement occurs.

This braking mechanism comprises a brake shoe |65 (Fig. 8), the upper Contact surface of which is faced with brake lining, as indicated at |51, and is forced against the under finished web surface |68 of brake gear |53 by a brake spring |39, the compressive upward thrust of which is regulated by adjustment of a brake screw threaded into the body of the control pedestal or stand |34. It is thus obvious that the frictional resistance to rotation of the gear train provided by this brake mechanism will restrain the premature rotative movement of the gear train, the control hand wheel and the inter-connected mechanism including shaft |59, stem disk |64 and control nut |43, while at the same time permitting rotation of all these parts after the upper and lower limits of axial movement of control piston |4| have been reached and rotation of these parts becomes necessary due to possible continued rotative movement of the screw |33 in response to movement of the needle |23.

The pressure fluid', secured either directly from the pressure conduit behind the needle valve or from any suitable source of supply, is carried to the control valve by a pipe |1| (Figs. 7 and 12) controlled by a gate valve |12, and yenters the control valve body |55 through a passage |13. No speed control valve similar to the valve 35 of Fig. 5, or connecting operating equipment therefor is provided or necessary in this modified Vtype of control, but by means of throttling the gate valve |12 in the pressure supply line, the same result is. attained. In Fig. 12 the control piston |4| is shown in proper position to admit pressure through passages |14 and |15 to chamber B of the needle valve, and to exhaust chambers A and C, through passages |13 and 11 to outlet |18, pipe |19 and drain header |80, thereby `producing opening movement of the needle Y|23 or maintaining the needlein the wide open position.

While the method of introducing fluid to and removing it from chamber B of the needle valve |23 by means of tubes 4U as previously described herein can be used with this construction,v it is preferred to establish communication with chamber B through ports |8| in the walls of. the axial tube |82 (Figs. 7, 9, 10 and 11). This tube |82 communicates by way of chamber D and cored passage 83 with the inlet and outlet passages |14 and |18, respectively, of the body of the control Valve.-

Chamber A is in direct communication with the body of the control valve through the cored passage |84. Chamber C is placed in communication with chamber A by way of the twin cored passages |85 in tube |82 (Figs. '1, 9, 10 and 1l). These two passages open through the end |89 of the tube |82 into chamber C, as indicated at |81 (Fig. 10) and open into chamber A through lateral ports |88 (Figs. 1 and 9). The general form of this diaphragm tube is substantially like that shown in Fig. 1, and includes a radial ilange to be bolted to an internal web of the valve casing and a reduced diameter portion for receiving the diaphragrn. The radial shoulder |82a forms a seat against which the diaphragm is forced when a two-part ring |82b is clamped in the circumferential groove |32c adjacent the closed end |86 of the diaphragm tube, It will be noted that the inner shoulder of this groove is radial while the outer shoulder is inclined inwardly to force the diaphragm against the radial seat as the clamp ring is tightened.

The bearing member |89 of shaft |21 closes off communication between chambers C and D through the central cavity of. tube |82 and there- 'by prevents interchange of uid between chambers B and C through this tube.

It will beseen by reference to Figs. l2 and 13 that the annular passage |14 of the control valve body v|85 is in communication with the pressure lluid inlet passage |13 and that by change of position of the piston |4| this passage |151 may be made to communicate either with passage |15 or |16 by means of annular passages |98 and |11, respectively. It will also be seen that annular passages |9| and |92 are in open communication with outlet |18 by way of diametrically opposite cored channels |93. Thus, when the piston |4| is in the lowered position shown in Figs. l2 and 13, the inlet passage |13 will be in communication with passage A|15 through annular passages |14 and |90, and outlet |18 will be in communication with passage |15 through annular passages |11 and |92.

Conversely, when the piston |4| is raised from the position shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the inlet passage |13 will be in communication with passage |1B through annular passages |14 and |11, and outlet |18 will be in communication with passage |15 through annular passages |90, |9| and |92, by way of channels |93 (see Fig. 13).

With this arrangement of the control and with the intercommunicating passages to the valve chambers A, B, C and D as illustrated, it is apparent that the four fundamental facts which govern the action of this control mechanism are as follows:

1. Upward movement of piston 4| results in closing movement of the needle.

2. Downward movement of piston |4| results in opening movement of the needle.

3. Closing movement of the needle results in downward movement of piston |4|.

4. Opening movement of needle results in upward movement of piston |4|.

Venting and draining 'of the cavities of the needle valve are accomplished in the same manner and by. the same means as those used and described in regard to the control arranged above the valve proper.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I provide two relatively simple and very efcient control mechanisms for valves of the type disclosed, whereby the relative or diiferential pressures in the several chambers which govern movement of the valve needle may be so controlled as to obtain the maximum of eciency in the operation of the valve.

Moreover, it is to be noted that, due to the sensitiveness of the control valve inherent in the rapid movement of the spool or piston thereof caused by the steep pitch of the multiple thread worm member, the relative pressures in the chambers A and C and chamber B may be quickly controlled in response to relatively slight movement of the needle toward or away from its seat. This also admits of much greater rapidity of acceleration or deceleration of the needle movement and opens the eld of utility of valves of this character to include installations not heretofore possible. For example, needle valves equipped with the control mechanism of my invention may be installed as synchronous by-pass valves used for pressure relief in conjunction with high head turbines which drive generators having loads subject to rapid fluctuations.

Various changes and modications are contemplated as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a control mechanism for valves of the plunger type having a pressure chamber to operate the plunger, the combination of a source of pressure uid for the chamber, a control valve for the pressure uid for controlling the pressure of the fluid in the chamber, manually operable rotatable means for the control valve, and further rotatable means automatically responsive to movement of the plunger to operate on the control valve.

2. In a control mechanism for valves of the plunger type having differential pressure chambers, the combination of a source of pressure fluid, means to distribute the pressure fluid to and to control the pressures in the pressure chambers, manually operable rotatable means for controlling the distributing means, and further rotatable means automatically responsive to movement of the plunger to operate on the distributing means.

3. A control mechanism for valves of the plunger type having differential pressure chambers, which includes a control valve having a ported body aording communication between a source of pressure fluid and said chambers and a piston axially movable relatively to the ports of said body for controlling pressures of iluid in said chambers, a rotatable member for imparting axial movement to said piston, means responsive to movement of said plunger for imparting rotation to said rotatable member whereby said piston may be adjusted in response to movement of the plunger, and manually operable means for varying the position of said piston whereby movement of said plunger may be controlled in response to variation of pressures in said chambers.

4. The combination with a valve having a casing and a plunger axially movable thereof for controlling flow of uid therethrough, said casing and plunger providing a plurality of differential pressure chambers for the reception of a pressure fluid whereby motion is imparted to said plunger, of control mechanism therefor, including a control valve having a ported body affording communication between a source of pressure fluid and said chambers and an axially movable piston for controlling said communication, means including a nut carried by said piston and a. rotatable worm member in mesh therewith for imparting axial movement to said piston, and means actuated in response to axial movement of said plunger for imparting rotation to said worm member, whereby movement of said plunger effectsmovement of said piston to vary the pressure effect in said chambers.

5. The combination with a valve having a casing and a plunger axially movable thereof for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, said casing and plunger providing a plurality of differential pressure chambers for the reception of a pressure fluid whereby motion is imparted to said plunger, of control mechanism therefor, including a control valve having a ported body affording communication between a source of pressure fluid and said chambers and an axially movable piston for controlling such communication, means including a nut carried by said piston and a rotatable worm member in mesh therewith for imparting axial movement to said piston, means including a rack-and-pinion gearing operable in response to movement of said plunger for rotating said worm member and thereby moving said piston to vary the pressure effect in said chambers, and manually operable means for adjusting said piston whereby the effect thereon of movement of said plunger may be varied and the pressure effect in said chambers altered to alter the position of said plunger.

6. The combination with a valve having a casing and .a plunger axially movable thereof for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, said casing and plunger provided with a plurality of differential pressure chambers, of a control mechanism, including a control valve having a ported body affording communication between a source of pressure fluid and said chambers, a piston for controlling the ports of said body whereby to varyv the pressures effective in said chambers, a nut carried by said piston, a rack carried by said plunger, a shaft carrying a Worm member in mesh with said nut and a pinion in'mesh with said rack, whereby movement of said plunger will vary the position of said piston relatively to the ports of said body, and means for manually rotating said nut relatively to said worm whereby the effect of movement of said plunger upon said piston may be modified.

7. The combination with avalve having a casing and a plunger movable axially thereof for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, said casing and plunger providing a plurality of differential pressure chambers, of control mechanism therefor including a control valve, means defining passages affording communication between said control valve and said chambers and including a communication tube flxed in said casing, said plunger being movable relatively to said tube, and a fluid-tight flexible bearing interposed between said plunger and tube.

8. The combination with a valve having a Casing and a plunger movable axially thereof for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, said casing and plunger providing a plurality of differential pressure chambers, of controlmechanism therefor including a control valve, means defining passages affording communication between said control valve and said chambers and including a ported communication tube fixed in said casing, said plunger being movable relatively to said tube, and a fluid-tight flexible bearing including a bearing sleeve interposed between said plunger and tube, and arranged for movement with said plunger axially ofrsaid tube, said sleeve cooperating with the port of saidk tube to throttle flow of fluid therethrough.

9. The combination with a valve having a casing and a plunger movable axially thereof for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, said casing and plunger p-roviding a plurality of differential pressure chambers, of control mechanism for controlling the pressures in said chambers by controlling the admission and escape of pressure uid therefrom, and valve controlled means including registering ports and passages in said plunger and casing respectively for exhausting air from said casing and chambers in the presence of pressure fluid therein.

1G. The combination with a valve having a casing and a plunger movable axially thereof for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, said Casing and plunger providing a plurality of differential pressure chambers, of control mechanism for said valve including a control valve for controlling the admission to and exhaust of pressure fluid from said chambers, means for exhausting air from said casing and chambers and from said control valve, and means for draining water from said casing, chambers and control valve, said means including ports in said plunger which, upon closing of the plunger, move into alignment with corresponding ports in said casing.

11. The combination with a valve having a casing and a plunger movable axially thereof for L controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, said casing and plunger providing a plurality of differential pressure chambers, of control mechanism for saidvalve including a control valve for controlling the admission to and exhaust of pressure fluid from said chambers, means for exhausting air from said casing and chambers and from said control valve, and means for draining water from said casing chambers and control valve, the draining means for said chambers including passages in said casing and ports in said plunger,.

said passages and ports adapted to register when said valve is closed.

12. In a control mechanism for plunger valves, a control valve including a ported body and a piston for vcontrolling the ports thereof, and means for imparting axial movement to said piston including a nut carried by said piston and fixed axially thereof but rotative therein under certain conditions, a Worm member in mesh with i.

said nut, stops for limiting axial movement of said nut and hence of said piston, means for rotating said worm member relatively to said nut to thereby move said piston axially, said means capable of imparting axial movement to said piston in excess of that permitted by said stops, said excess axial movement being transformed into rotary movement by rotation of said nut with said worm member within said piston,

13. In a control mechanism for plunger valves, aV control valve including a ported body and a piston for controlling the ports thereof, means for imparting axial movement to said piston including a nut carried by said piston and fixed axially thereof but rotative therein under certain conditions, a Worm member in mesh with said nut, means for rotating said worm member and thereby `imparting axial movement to said nut and piston, and means for rotating said nut relatively to said worm member.

14. In a control mechanism for valves of the needle type, the construction with a valve body, a needle slidable therein, and means cooperating with said needle to define a plurality of pressure fluid chambers, of a casing open to a s ource of pressure fluid, and movable means to distribute the pressure fluid to and to control the pressures in the pressure chambers, said means comprising a reciprocating valve, intermeshed worm and nut elements, means securing one of said elements to said reciprocating valve to prevent axial displacement thereof and frictionally to resist relative angular displacement, manual means for rotating one of said elements, and means for rotating the second element in accordance with the clisplacement of said needle.

15. The combination with a valve casing, a needle, and means cooperating with said needle to dene a plurality of chambers for receiving pressure uid for actuating said needle, of a member for controlling` the supply of pressure fluid to and the exhaust thereof from the respective chambers, a pair of rotatable elements having meshing threads of such pitch that rotation of but one element eiects a relative axial displacement of the elements, means connecting one element to said member for actuating the same, and manually actuated means for rotating one of said elements, and means for rotating said second element in response to movement of said needle; each of said rotating means, when inactive, normally preventing rotation of the element associated therewith when the other element is rotated by its rotating means.

16. The invention as claimed in claim 15, wherein rotation oi but one element eiects a sliding movement of said controlling member, in combination with stop means restricting the sliding displacement of said controlling member to a fraction of the total distance corresponding to actuation by said second element in response to a full stroke of said needle, and wherein said means connecting one element to said member includes a frictional connection yieldable under abnormal conditions to permit the simultaneous rotation of both elements in the event thatY the rotation of said second element by said needle continues after sliding movement of said controlling member is arrested by said stop means.

17. The invention as claimed in claim 15, in combination with an adjustable brake cooperating with said manually actuated means to normally prevent, except when said manually actuated means is purposely actuated, rotation of the element associated therewith.

.1.8. In a control mechanism for use with needle valves ofthe multiple-chamber type, the combination of a casing providing a pressure uid inlet opening and an exhaust iiuid outlet opening, passages adapted to communicate with the respective chambers of a needle valve, a reciprocating piston for controlling communication between said passages and said openings, a worm element and a cooperating nut element for actuating said piston, manual control means for rotating one of said elements, automatic control means adapted to be connected to the needle of said valve for rotating said other element in accordance with the movement of the needle, and means connecting one of said elements to said piston substantially to prevent relative axial displacement of the said connected element and said piston; each of said elements normally acting as a substantially non-rotating body except when rotated by its own control means, whereby said piston may be given a reciprocating movement by a rotation of either of said elements.

19. A control mechanism as claimed in claim 18, wherein said automatic control means rotates the element associated therewith in such sensethat movement of the needle in response to a manual displacement of said piston rotates the needle-associated element to restore said piston to its former position.

20. In aneedle valve, the combination with a o needle valve casing, an inner shell within said casing and cooperating therewith to dene an annular uid conduit, a needle slidable in said shell, means cooperating with said needle to provide a plurality of pressure chambers, and means l0 dening passages in said casing and extending to the respective chambers, of a control valve casing secured to said needle valve casing and having passages therein opening into the passages of said needle valve casing, a pressure fluid inlet and an exhaust uid outlet for said control valve casing, a control valve within said casing, manually operable means and a mechanical drive connecting the same to said control valve, and means completely enclosed within said casings for automatically actuating said control valve in response to movement of said needle.

21. A needle valve as set forth in claim 20, wherein said needle valve casing is arranged with the am's of the said fluid conduit substantially 25 coinciding with a horizontal line, and the said control valve casing is arranged at the top of said needle valve casing.

22. A needle valve as set forth in claim 20, wherein said needle valve casing is arranged with the axis of the said fluid conduit substantially coinciding with a horizontal line, and the said control valve casing is arranged at the bottom of said needle valve casing.

23. A needle valve as claimed in claim 20, wherein said mechanical drive includes a chain of gears, in combination with a casing housing said mechanical -drive and secured to said control valve casing.

2.4. A needle valve as claimed in claim 20, 40 in combination with a control stand supporting said manually operable means, an indicator carried by said control stand, and means connecting said indicator to said needle for actuation thereby, said connecting means and mechanical drive each including one element of a pair of telescoped elements extending into said control stand.

25. In a needle valve of the type including a casing, a needle having an annular head and a detachable nose, and a diaphragm within the needle; a diaphragm tube having one anged end adapted to be secured to the casing, the opposite end of said tube having a reduced diameter end portion terminating in an inner radial shoulder, and a circumferential groove adjacent 5; the outer end of said reduced diameter portion, whereby a diaphragm fitted upon said reduced diameter portion may be clamped against said radial shoulder by a clamp ring seated in said groove. 6o

26. A diaphragm tube as claimed in claim 25, wherein the said groove has an inner radial wall substantially normal to the axis of said tube, and an outer wall which flares outwardly from said inner radial wall. (i5

27. In a valve, the combination with a casing, an inner shell, a needle slidable in said shell and having an annular head, and a diaphragm within said needle, of a tube securing said diaphragm to said shell, said annular head cooperating with To said diaphragm to form two transverse walls which divide the space within said needle and shell into three tandem compartments, a cored passage Within said tube and opening into the compartment at the nose of the needle, ports in the wall of said tube to place the bore thereof in communication with the compartment formed between said annular head and said diaphragm, a port in the wall of the tube which forms a part of said cored passage, said last port being arranged rearwardly of the extreme rear position of the annular head when the needle is fully open, whereby the end compartments are in free communication through said cored passage, an-d wall means within said shell defining a fluid passage communicating with the bore of said tube.

28. In a valve, the combination with a casing, an inner shell, a needle slidable in said shell and having an annular head, and a diaphragm within said needle, of a tube securing said diaphragm to said shell, said annular head cooperating with said diaphragm to form two transverse walls which divide the space within said needle and shell into three tandem compartments, and a pressure fluid tube secured to said diaphragm and having a sliding and water-tight fit in said annular head, an end wall closing said pressure iiuid tube to the compartment at the nose of said needle, lateral ports in the wall of said pressure iiui-d tube and opening into the compartment between said head and diaphragm, and means defining a fluid passage opening into the bore of said pressure fluid tube.

29. A valve as claimed in claim 28, wherein said passage dening means comprises partition walls in said shell, one of said partition walls having an opening into which the end of said pressure iiuid tube extends.

30. In a system for controlling fluid flow in a conduit, a valve element in the conduit in combination with energizable means whereby the same is moved, an energy distributor for the said means, a manual operator for the distributor, a. valve element operator therefor, and an interposed mechanical compensator having a differential function whereby the valve element is positioned in response to a cooperative action of the operators.

31. In a system for controlling fluid ow in a conduit, a valve element in the conduit in combination with pressure chambers whereby the same is moved, a pressure distributor for the chambers, a manual operator for the pressure distributor, a Valve element operator therefor, and an interposed mechanical compensator having a differential function whereby the valve element is positioned in response to a cooperative action of the operators.

32. In a system for controlling fluid flow in a conduit, a valve element in the conduit in combination with pressure chambers whereby the same is moved, a pressure distributor for the chambers, a plurality of operators therefor at least one of which is positioned from a change in position of the valve element, and an interposed mechanical compensator having a differential function allowing the valve element to readjust the distributor from an original overtravel motion of the Valve element originating from pressure energization through either one of the aforesaid operators unaffected by change in position of the Valve element.

33. In a system for controlling fluid iiow in a conduit, a valve element in the conduit in combination with energzable means whereby the same is moved, an energy distributor for the said means, a manual operator for the distributor, a valve element operator therefor, an interposed mechanical compensator having a differential function whereby the valve element is positioned in response to a cooperative action of the operators, and an over-trawel protection means between at least one of the operators and the said mechanical compensator.

PHILLIP A. KINZIE. 

